Day 6: The Run was just “Dandy”!!

“There will be a day when I cannot run….  Today is not the day!”

      I awoke this morning and shared a couple cups of rich coffee and decadent pastries with my family.  We traded life stories and there was no limit to the amount of laughter that took place at that breakfast table.  It was mid-morning and I could hear the running trails beckoning me… With that I asked my sister for a good recommendation for a place to run and she directed me to Sun Lake Forest Preserve, Lake Villa, IL…..  I have been doing physical therapy for many weeks and have worked up to a couple road runs so far.  The knee seems to swell after the runs and pain is only a state of mind.  I choose not to let pain create too many limitations in my life and if there are days that it decides to prevent me from running, I always try to find a way around it!  I refuse to give in or give up… so with those thoughts, off I went in search of this new trail… It was a short drive from my sister’s house and quite easy to find.  I pulled up, stepped out of the car and there in front of me was a dandelion lined trail with grasslands and a creek running through it.   I stretched my legs, turned on my running music and simply hoped for a good run should it be my last run.  And with that very thought the run began.  As I passed other runners and walkers the “Hello’s” and “Good mornings!” were effortless… smiles abound and a stride I wished I could hold onto forever.  I ran as best I could with the sun’s rays kissing my skin and the slight breeze touching my warm body and helping to evaporate the effort of running glistening from my neck and arms.  As I ran, I felt grateful and the memories of similar runs in the prairie state flooded my mind.  As I closed in on the 5k mark, it was time to test the stride and begin the sprint to the finish.  As my arms were pumping and my gait holding its own, I felt like I had come unleashed and with that I ended the run took two steps and felt “eyes on me”…. As I looked to the right, there in the field were two large does just staring… whatever were they thinking?  I would like to think that they could not even detect the altered gait that has become necessary to complete my runs.  I would like to think that perhaps they were wondering, “Who is this speedy one running in my territory?”  The chances are, they were simply thinking, “When is she going to leave?”  Lol!  I snapped a couple pics and took my time to return to my car trying to imprint every step that was taken and every dandelion passed and feeling every grateful for this dandy run, indeed! Another run and feeling very grateful…. Wondering what tomorrow will bring!